Refrigerator cabinet



Sept. "7 1 937. L. STRATTON 2,092,430

, REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed Nov. 4, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l 8 A? W [F] /70 6 j INVENTOR. Lee .S'frazforz BY TTORNEY.

S ept. 7, 1937. E

L. STRATTON' REFRIGERATOR CABINET Filed Nov. 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I a; J

INVENTOR. lee Sire 27022 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 7 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT oer-ice 6 Claims (or. 312-184) This invention elates to a refrigerator cabinet and particularly to means for enhancing its utility and capacity. I

Anobject of the invention is to provide a 5 readily-operated means for securing vertical adjustment of refrigerator shelves relative to each other, to obtain any desired clearance therebe tween for the purpose of accommodating articles of all dimensions, said means being also adapted to allow the shelves to swing outwardly from the cabinet for accessto the articles thereon.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for collapsing and expanding a'refrigerator shelf along its longitudinal length to give 15 additional room for articles positioned on the shelf subjacent thereto. y

A further object of the invention is to provide a means for folding a refrigerator shelf against a wall of theicabinet when the occasion demands its removal.

Other objects will become apparent from the following specifications and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrig erator. cabinet disclosing my shelf in various- 25 positions; l

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the upper refrigerator shelf shown in Figwl. v r Fig. 3 is a fragmental cross sectional view taken on line 3'-3 of Fig. 2. 30 Fig. 4 is a bottom plan detail of 'the shelf hinge arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a modified form of -my shelf. My invention consists of, a refrigerator cabi- 35 net 8 having a number of walls 9 which define a food storage compartment Ill. The compartment has an opening H which is provided with a door l2 and contains a refrigerating unit IS. A vertical rod I4 is fastened to the top and bot- 40 tom walls" of the compartment and is disposed therein adjacent the opening and to one side thereof. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shelves l5 are supported by this rod by means of a horizontal bar 5 having an aperture H at one end 45 to slidably receive said rod. The weight of the shelf exerted on the rod is remote from the aper-. ture which sets up a torque between the rod and the aperture in the bar to exert a clamping action between the two. members. 50 stood therefore that by applying an upward pressure on the shelf that said shelf will be slid along the rod to any desired postion and when said pressure is removed the weight of the shelf will clamp it to the rod, thus providing a readily 55 operated means for securing vertical adjustment ,shown by the shelf 3| in Fig. 1.

It will be underof the shelves. The vertical rod M is provided with'a number of horizontal circular grooves I10 the rod and the bar when the shelf is placed in any desired position. Also by means of this rod 5 and barengagement the shelf 'may be swung outwardly about the rod to a position indicated by the dotted lines ill in Fig. 2 or by the bottom shelf l9 shown in Fig. 1. This last function provides accessibility to the food stored upon the rear of the shelf. V I,

-Itis also contemplated thatthe shelf be 001- lapsible and expansible along its longitudinal length to giveyadditional room for articles on the subjacent shelf. To this end the shelf oomprisesa number of longitudinally disposed telescopic membersZll disposed in spaced relation-- ship and'fastened at thesupported end of the shelf by 'a transverse tubular member 2| and fastened at their free ends by an arcuate tubular member 22 (Figs. 2 and 3) the latter being so formed to secure sufficient clearance between the outer shelf edge and the opening to allow the shelf to be swung outwardly'from the compartment'. The'arcuate dotted line 23 in Fig. 2 indicates the position of the arcuate tubular member when the shelf is in collapsed position; any intermediate shelf length may be obtained if desired. r A suitable means for'collapsing or ex- I pandlng the shelf comprises a reel 24 positioned beneath the telescopic members which is actuated by a rotatable rod 25 provided with a manually operated knob 26. The rod is connected to a metal strip 21 within the reel housing 28, an. arcuated slot 29 (Fig. 3) being formed therein. The metal strip is thereby given an arcuate shape in transverse cross section between the reel opening and the point where it is fastened to the arcuate tubular member 22 by bolt 30. This formation of the strip provides a rigidity to its body to prevent its bending when outward pressure is The shelf is rotatably fastened to the horizontal bar Hi to allow the shelf in contracted condition to be moved to a vertical position adjacent the wall of the compartment as To accomplish thisresult I provide two metal straps 32 (Fig. 3) which frictionally engage the horizontal bar l6 and the transverse tubular member 2|. A pin 33 being provided to fasten the strap, in a horizontal position to the bar l6. As shown in Fig. 4 the under side of the straps are providedwith an ear 34 which engages one of the telescoping members to retain the shelf in a horizontal position.

A modified form of my invention comprises a ment and also permit the shelf to be adjusted collapsible and expansible shelf 35 similar to that in a vertical direction.

4. A telescoping members 36. A number of fiat strips walls defining a food storage compartment, an

the shelf is expanded the-chain will bring the members, means for collapsing and expanding What is claimed is: thereof for receiving the vertical rod to allow the ,1. A refrigerator cabinet having a plurality of shelf to swing outwardly from the compartment 1 walls de side thereof, a collapsible and expansible shelf, opening for the compartment, a door for said wardly from the compartment and also permit members, a transverse member connecting the 25 in one end thereof for slidably engaging the rod, the shelf to swing outwardly from the compart- 36 and hinge means rotatably connecting the bar to ment and also permit the shelf to be adjusted the shelf. in a vertical direction.

3. A refrigerator cabinet having a plurality of 6. A refrigerator cabinet having a plurality of defining a food storage compartment, an walls de 40 opening for the compartment, a door for said opening for the compartment, a door for said 40 members, a horizontal bar, hinge means rotatture inone end thereof for slidably engaging the 45 the shelf to swing outwardly from the compart- LEE BTRA'I'I'ON. 

